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Preface

We live in a world where accidents, mishaps, disagreements, and unfortunate altercations occur on a daily basis. Both Gareth and myself have lived and worked in a variety of huge, busy cities around the United Kingdom, where dental trauma occurs under a variety of circumstances and situations. Such is the burden on health care professionals and services we were motivated to create a text that is quick to refer to and easy to understand in the hope that the scope of management of these cases is shared far and wide.

No two dental trauma cases are the same, and no story charting the circumstances of the injury cease to intrigue or cause dismay. My first memory of managing an acute traumatic injury was in South Wales as a junior trainee. A young boy had challenged his friend to shoot an apple off the top of his head ‘Robin Hood’ style. . .with an air rifle! Unfortunately, the apple escaped unscathed, but his central incisor was shattered. What was more apparent than the injury itself was the mental anguish on his face at the thought of a near‐death experience and, of course, the appearance of his tooth. It was safe to say his mother was also as equally mortified. What we both have realised through our daily experiences is the mental trauma that dental injuries can cause our patients. Post‐traumatic stress disorder is a real and significant consideration for this patient cohort, and this is an aspect of our care we must not overlook or fail to recognise. Indeed quick, efficient, and TIMELY management of dental trauma is likely to reduce the mental anguish and significant comorbidities that may develop in the future. We both feel that the complications that arise from trauma injuries are significantly more difficult and complicated to attend to than if the injury was managed optimally in the first instance. The legacy of poorly managed trauma is long and unrelenting.

We have known each other for over a decade now, worked together on numerous projects and travelled the world from Ghana to Las Vegas. I must say this book is a testament of a true friendship by two clinicians who want to make a difference for dental trauma patients around the world.

Aws Alani